The moment Linda hopped fully in front of Gaffer, a strange hush passed over the room.
The goldfish doctor blinked at her once and then twice, and something softened in his expression. He didn't know how a rabbit beast pet or beastman could be so beautiful.
How? Why didn't remember it? Yet he stared as if the little rabbit was something so familiar. He felt oddly warm around the beast rabbit that was so so white and tiny. He had no idea why.
His two chambered heart was troubled. But in a good way.
He tried to hide it, straightening his posture, but some part of him simply… liked the rabbit. He felt moist, calm, almost relieved in its presence.
He tried to mask it by clearing his throat.
Scliff, however, clicked his tongue under his breath, his face tightening.
He shook his head, his jaw twitching with irritation.
That was enough for Linda to sense how displeased he still was with her.
But Dr. Swaid and Gaffer didn't notice as they were still focused on the unconscious serpent young master.
Gaffer finally exhaled. "Since you insist he's just asleep, then wake him."
Dr. Swaid nodded. "Let us first move to the main examination room. It is more suitable."
They carried the limp silver-scaled serpent out of the inventory and into a chamber with polished walls and a circular glass conclave in the center.
The air was dry and crisp. It was deliberately so as all other rooms in the skyship were kept dry and crisp, because water was considered dangerous. Generations had passed down this superstition like law in the Scales Tribe.
Even the young master's circular glass conclave that sat at the center had its inside lined with soft dry sand and heat stones.
The serpent lay motionless in Dr. Swaid's hands, tiny body loose, and tail hanging limp.
"Steady," the doctor whispered as he lowered him onto a padded cloth with a dry surface.
Seeing the way the young master had been carried in so limp, everyone had gathered in concern.
They held their breaths when they saw the padded cloth turn damp in colour after the young master was laid on it.
Water! Who had let the young master play with something so dangerous?!
Dr. Swaid placed two fingers on the beastling's tail and tapped it a little harder than a soft light tap, whispering, "Young Master… wake."
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then the serpent's small head twitched. A faint pulse fluttered at his neck. Then his eyelids, small translucent scales over golden pupils, stirred and slowly lifted.
Unlike the usual dull eyes after awaking from a sick sleep, its eyes were rather bright and present and alert than fogged.
Dr. Swaid gasped quietly.
Gaffer's fingers curled slowly at his side.
Even Scliff whispered, "He looks… different, Master."
The silver-scaled serpent raised his head an inch, tongue flicking once. Instead of the usual sluggish droop and weak coil, his body formed a tighter, more deliberate loop. His tail shifted with purpose and not exhaustion this time.
"Master," the doctor said carefully, "permit me to use the water again to confirm his reaction."
Gaffer nodded once. "Proceed."
Linda perched on a corner bench, watching everything with wide eyes.
They brought the serpent toward the glass conclave which was a bit too big in size. Workers hurried in opening it and filling it up with water gotten from the storage. Water began to rise inside the glass habitat.
The doctor set him gently inside.
Gaffer observed silently, his expression unreadable.
He was first displeased by how they filled the conclave to the brim. What if his little son died in it?!
He would risk it for now and have all their heads on a platter of wood if anything was to happen to his dear son!
The instant the beastling fell into the hands water, its scales glistening, its entire body shivered like it had been long-starved finally tasting food.
Its spine rippled as its head snapped up with sudden alertness.
Then it began to move.
It slid further and deeper into the water where it circled a floating heat stone and darted forward in a swift, fluid S-curve. Its tail whipped back, cutting clean lines through the water. It twisted, looped around the rocks, glided upward, dove, twisted again.
A low murmur rippled across the room.
"Look at the young master!"
"He hasn't moved like this since he was born."
"The Master is wise. Truly wise! His love as a father has continued to give him more wisdom to heal his son."
"His intuition is unmatched—look how the Young Master thrives!"
"The master indeed deserves the praise. He even risked it and put his faith in something so dangerous!"
"No. No longer dangerous. Water is a miracle. It has helped the young master become better."
"Water is a miracle, exclusive to the young master only though. It is still dangerous to us."
"The young master has always been special."
They praised Gaffer and the water endlessly. Even Dr. Swaid was speechless, watching the young master tumble and twirl joyfully in water.
A few simply stared, stunned, as the serpent explored every inch of the water chamber, his tiny body glowing with vitality he had never shown on land.
He bumped the glass playfully, curled through the bubbles, flicked his tail with a confidence none of them had ever imagined he could possess.
Gaffer only watched, unmoving, but his throat bobbed once.
Then gradually, the serpent slowed. His coils loosened. He drifted downward, settling among the glowing stones at the bottom. His body curled into a peaceful spiral.
A soft exhale rippled through the water.
He fell asleep; a calm peaceful and natural sleep.
The crowd gasped in awe.
Gaffer stepped closer to the glass, his breath shaking. He noticed the glass display the faint reflection of an image sitting, two hinds two paws, on a corner bench. Linda—the Little white rabbit.
Linda sat by quietly, her fur clumped with moisture, especially her paws. Her tiny body trembled with exhaustion due to fatigue. She had done everything she could. She was tired now.
Gaffer approached slowly, the others respectfully stepping aside when they noticed his attention had shift.
His shadow fell over her.
He stretched out his hand toward her. And Linda, without hesitation, hopped into his palm.
She settled against his chest, melting against his warmth. She was deeply and utterly tired. His body felt comfortable and very safe so she relaxed completely.
From the side, several officers exchanged displeased looks.
One whispered, "That stray beast pet again…"
Another murmured, "Why does he keep it so close?"
None dared say it out loud though.
Scliff looked away, his jaw clenched.
Gaffer gently lifted one of her paws with his fingers. Her fur was soaked. "You're wet."
Linda's heart flipped.
The way he said it, with his voice low, tone rough, making it sound intimate… that made her ears twitch.
To everyone else, she was a rabbit. But inside, she was a human woman after all. And that voice… sounded too close to something else.
She raised her head, meeting his eyes.
His gaze wasn't angry or cold. Not even suspicious. Rather, there was admiration there alongside warm and deep gratitude.
"So," he said softly, "you're the one who poured the water on my son and helped him sleep naturally and peacefully?"
Her eyes brightened instantly.
For the first time afte rebirth, someone saw her effort for what it truly was. Someone understood and acknowledged her worth.
She placed her tiny paw on his wrist.
Gaffer smiled. He seemed to have found his genuine smile now ever since his lover left.
He pulled her closer to his chest with one arm. 'I made the right choice,' he thought.
If this small creature with no affinity could help his son regain strength, regain life, then it was more valuable than any beastman lion or wolf or hawk.
If a mere beast pet rabbit could help his son grow strong enough to claim the Blue Pearl relic… If it could stay beside his son, help his be able to defend himself in a fight and a hunt so when he is grown he can fight for the Blue Pearl relic himself…
Then it was no mere beastpet. It was extraordinary.
Meanwhile, Linda pressed her ears upon his heartbeat, thinking.
This world… it's not just strange, it is a funny world.
How could they fear water? They hate water and treat it like it is poison. Yet the goldfish needed it to survive. The Imoogi needed it to be better. Nearly every beastman in this skyship belonged to the water or needed it in one way or another.
How could they not know this?
How could a world so gifted be so ignorant of itself?
They didn't understand their animal natures at all and this is the bottom line. They lived blind to the instinct engraved in their bodies.
Linda almost laughed.
If she had legs and hands and a human tongue to talk, she could rule this place. Life here would be so easy.
She could tame every beastman on this ship and beyond.
She could become not just mother of the land who would own whatever was above and below the land and the land included, but she could be the mother of the entire beast world. No, Mother Nature!
It was just unfortunate that instead… she was a small, tired rabbit being cradled in the arms of the most powerful man here.
And for now, maybe that was enough.